Incandescent-lamp lock



July 10, 1928.

J. COOKE INCANDESCENT LAMP LOCK Filed March 12, 1921 mvamok' m6) ATTORNEYS I 7 Fig.1 is aside view partly in section 'iramns COOKE, on

NEW on n'n. Y.. -ASSIGNOR crown-impure; 'wineoxn. panel/inn, on BROOKLYN. new YQRKJ 1 INCANDESCENT -LAMP nook. Y

Application filed March 12, 1927. .Serial 110,174,875.

I bTheinain object of the-present invention is to provideimproved means for preyenting the unauthorized.removal and t-heft of an electric lampbulb from its socket.

Otherobjectsjwill appear hereinafter. In the drawings: 1

showing a lamp bulb and socket held together 'by my improved retaining means; 7 Fig. 2a sideelevat-ion of the joint between the lamp and socket; I v

Fig. 3 a detail side view of the plug end of the lamp, partly broken. away;

Fig.4 a detail plan view of the annular lamp-retaining band showing it expanded;

and Fig. 5' a detail plan viewof said band partly in section showing it'contracted and with its ends secured together.

Referring by numerals to the various parts, 1 designates the lamp socket and 2 the glass incandescent lamp, bulb carried thereby. The socket 1 is formed with an annular bead 3 adjacent its openend. This bead is present in practically all of the commercial sockets now in use. 7 The lamp 2 is provided atone end with the usual threaded metal plug 4; which is adapted to screw into "thessocket. Closely adjacent to the plug 4 the bulb is integrally formed'with an annular glass bead or'rib 5 which. extends entirely around the bulb and is formed to provide an annular locking shoulder 6. The shoulder 6 faces away from the plug 4, toward the opposite end of-the lamp and its purpose will be presently set forth. stantially equal to that of-the .bead 3 upon the socket. i

-A locking member 7 isprovided for look ing the lamp and socket together. This member is in the form of a somewhat flexible and resilient sheet metal band formed into a split annular shape, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The ends of the band are bent radiallyfoutward to provide two opposed fastening ears 8 which are formed with apertures. One edge of the band 7 is turned inwardly to form an annular retaining flange 9 extending around the band from one of the ears 8 to the other. The opposite edge of the band is formed with a similar retaining flange 10.

Prior to screwing the lamp into the socket the band 7 is placed around either The diameter of the bead 5'is subthe open end of the [socket or-the plug end of thelamp; The Width ofthe band is such that the space bet-weenitsflanges 9 andlO will accommodate both the bead 8 and the I bead 5 whenthe lamp is. screwed into the has been adjusted around said beads the flange 10 engages the locking shoulder (Sand V the flange 9 engages the bead 3 at the side thereof remote from the bead 5. Theears 8. of the locking band arethen brought toe. gether to. contract thelband and are rigidly secured in closed position by atubular rivetl' inserted through their apertures. This r vet is preferably of comparatively soft metal so jthat it may be readily place'din position and secured to the ears 8 by ahand tool. While I prefer touse a rivet it will be understood thatot-her suitable fastening means may be employed to hold the locking band closedn Thebulb and locking'band j have been particularly designed-forattad ment to sockets of standard form and thereby avoid the necessity of altering or replacing standardjlixturesin order to lock the bulb." r f j When the parts are assembled as shown in Figs.- 1 and 2 it will beimpos'sibleto de-- tach-the-lamp from the socket except by the removal of the locking band. The .lamp, however, maybe'turnedslightly in the lamp socket. This is desirable for the reason that if the lampwererigidly locked against all movement it would likely be broken by persons endeavoring to detach it; i If, however, the lamp turns fora limited distance and then becomes rigidly locked between the flanges 9 and 10 they are warned that the manner and consequently they will be discouraged ifrom further efforts to remove it. The lamp is held against withdrawal by the engagement of; its rib 5'witli the flange 10 of the locking ring. This rib is nonconducting, being formed of glass integrally with the lamp. and the necessity for providing insulat-ing means between the band 7 and the plug 4 is thereby avoided. This manner of connecting the locking ring to the lamp positively guardsagainst any possibility of a short circu1t through the plugfl, the locking ring and the metal shell of the socket, and thus complies with the safety requirementsof the fireunderwriters. While the locking-band holds the lamp against with- IUD a) socketyas shown in Fig. lVhen the band drawal it is so designed as to leave'the lamp free to be screwed into the socket as far as I may be necessary to make a good contact.

When itis necessary to remove the lamp "the fivetn may be removed b y' a suitable I have provided an extremely simple, safe,

effective and inexpensive means for preventlIlg' the unauthorized removal and theft of electric bulbs. in hotels, ofiice buildings,

factories, etc, considerable loss results from the. theft of incandescent lamp bulbs. In

: some cases this loss is so-great as to call-for the employment of men to act as guards to prevent theft. In hotels it frequently ocours that the guests "ren'iove tlie'lamp bulbs from the sockets andconnect chafing dishes and other electric'cooki'ng utensils and elec- "tricallyheated irons to the light" circuit.

f bulb from the socket.

This frequently results in over-loa 'ding the circuit and the consequent burning out of the fuses. stroyedthere is an excessive consumption of current which is a direct'loss to the hotel.

' While'I have described and shown what I now consider the'preferred form ofiny invention I reserve the right to make such changes therein as will lie within the scope of the claims That I claim is 1.The combination of a lamp socket; an electric lamp in the former" a glass bulb provided With a screw plug adapted to fit said socket; a non-'conductinglocking shoulder directly and rigidly carried by the lamp bulb adjacent the screw plug and retaining means to connect said locking shoulder with the socket-and prevent "the removal of the 2. The combinationgof a lamp socket having an annular bead near its open end; a glasslamp bulb provided with a screw plug adapted to fit said socket and formed integrally with a locking shoulder adj acent said plug and facing away from it toward the op posite end of the lamp and retaining ineans to connect said bead and locking shoulder and prevent removal of the lamp from the socket.

3. The combination of a lamp socket hav- Where the fuses are not do bulb, formed with a'plug end; a metal screwplug mounted'upon said end of the lamp;

with an inturned retaining flange at oneedge tdengag'e 'saidjlocking shoulderfahd formed with aninturned retaining flange at its opposite cdge'to engage'the side of the socket bead directed away' from thelocking shoulder, the ends of the locking member being formed'with outturnedears adapted to be secured together, whereby 'said-mernber will hold the lamp to the's ocketfi 4. An 'electric' lamp comprising a, glass bulb provided with a screw plu'g'at one end and integrally formed'at its outer surface with a locking'shoulden adjacent theplug and facil'lgtowardthe opposite end of'the lamb. p V

5. An electric lamp comprising a glass and an annular glass bead integrally formed comprising a glass bulb provided with'a screw plugat one end; a non-conducting locking abutment permanently carried by the lamp adjacent the inner end of the plug and fac ing toward the bulb end of the lamp"; and a split annular locking member formed to engage 'said locking shoulder and to engage a lamp socket member to hold 't'he lamp agalnst removal from the socket-member." 3

i In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JAMES cookie. 

